KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has confirmed an Internet report that a "Kiss World" store is tentatively scheduled to be opened in Melbourne, Australia in April, with plans to launch stores in other cities worldwide. Asked in a fan letter about the rumor, which originated on the KISS fan site www.kissfanshop.de, Gene said, "We're ...

Bassist Barry Sparks (TED NUGENT, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN, MSG) has posted the following message on his official web site: "Hello and Happy New Year! I am on United Airlines flight 890, flying from Tokyo to Los Angeles. With nothing at all to do, so I guess this is a good time for me to reflect ...

MY RUIN frontwoman Tairrie B. has lashed out at BLABBERMOUTH.NET for re-posting her "personal journal" entry pertaining to the Michael Jackson child-molestation controversy and treating it as if it were an official "press release." Check it out here. Note from the editor: For the record, BLABBERMOUTH.NET has never implied that Miss B's views ...

Terri Theodore of Canada.com is reporting that a businessman who thought he had a guitar belonging to late NIRVANA frontman Kurt Cobain is suing a Washington state man for fraud. The lawsuit filed in B.C. Supreme Court claims Earnest "Guitar" Bailey falsely represented a left-handed Fender Stratocaster guitar as Cobain's. Phil Gross, a resident of ...

Nielsen SoundScan, the entertainment industry's data information system that tracks point-of-purchase sales of recorded music product, and Nielsen BDS, the music industry's leading song monitoring service, have announced their 2003 year-end sales and airplay monitoring data through December 28, 2003. 2003 Top Ten Selling Albums (01/01/2003-12/28/2003) 01. 50 CENT – "Get Rich or Die Tryin'": ...

VELVET REVOLVER are expected to return to the studio this weekend to re-record one of the songs slated for inclusion on the group's debut CD, an informed source has told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. It is believed that the track in question is being re-recorded at the insistence of vocalist Scott Weiland, who was reportedly unhappy with how ...

An original "Donington Monsters of Rock 1981" Performing Artists Presentation Plaque, one of only seven ever made (one of which was given to the founding member of each band performing on the day), is currently being auctioned off via eBay at this location. According to the seller's sales pitch, "I have on good ...

A poll of readers of Guitar World magazine picked Kirk Hammett of METALLICA as "Best Metal Guitarist", while Zakk Wylde of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY was named "Most Valuable Player." METALLICA's poor-selling new album, "St. Anger", was named biggest disappointment, but it also came in at No. 2 as the "Best Metal Album", ranking behind BLACK ...

Los Angeles-based progressive thrash metal band PROTOTYPE have announced the addition of drummer Sam Aliano to the group's ranks. "Sam hails from the great country of Australia and has established himself as one of that country's top drummers," according to an official press release. "Now in Los Angeles, Ca., Sam has been building a reputation ...

Ozzy Osbourne missed out today on the wedding of his eldest son, Louis, in Ireland, according to the Belfast Telegraph. Louis, 28, married Irish girl Louise Lennon, 30, with the reception held in Kinnitty Castle in Birr, Co Offaly. Around 160 guests attended the fairy-tale wedding, including Louis's mother Thelma (Ozzy's first wife) and his ...